Proper Shifting Technique

  • Thread starter Thread starter Danoff
  • 37 comments
  • 2,808 views
Danoff

Danoff

Premium
Messages
34,405
United States
Mile High City
Ok, so I know how to drive a stick - or... at least... I think I do.

Here's what I do.

Starting in First Gear:
--------------------------------------------
Drop Clutch to the floor
Put car in first.
Give it a little gas and ease the clutch out until the car starts to roll.
When the car starts to roll give it more gas and hold the clutch for just a moment.
Then let the clutch out while increasing throttle.


Upshifting
--------------------------------------------
Clutch goes in.
Shift to the next gear.
Gas up while removing the clutch quickly

Downshifting
----------------------------------------------
Clutch goes in
Blip throttle to to increase rpms
shift into one gear down
Gas up while removing the clutch quickly.


Coasting
-----------------------------------------------
Clutch goes in


General
------------------------------------------------
RPMs stay above 1.5k or so.



That's about all I know about driving a manual and it looks like I'm about to own one. Is there anything else I should know? Anything I'm doing wrong? I'd like to be sure that I know how to drive a stick properly .
 
hey man im in the same boat as you, im buying a stick shift pretty soon, my first one, and i have about as much knowledge as you. so any further feedback from experienced stick shifters would be awsome 👍
 
Well, there are some oddities in your upshift and downshift techniques.

For downshifting under braking, you don't want to get on the gas at all... until you get in practice and learn to heel and toe. If you're talking about downshifting for acceleration, your technique is good.

For upshifting under acceleration, there's no reason to blip the throttle during the shift. After you shift up, the car will be turning lower revs for a given wheel speed, and there is no need to increase the revs over what they were in the lower gear.

Other than that, you've got the basics.

I tend to downshift once (5 > 4) when rolling down to a stop, then let the engine drag down until the car gets near lugging speed (20mph +/- in 4th), then put the clutch in briefly and set the car in neutral. I tend to wait with the car in neutral but that's really your choice; the only thing you're doing by sitting in gear with the clutch in is adding a little wear to the throwout bearing.
 
danoff
That's about all I know about driving a manual and it looks like I'm about to own one. Is there anything else I should know? Anything I'm doing wrong? I'd like to be sure that I know how to drive a stick properly .
Click to expand...

Only thing I can think of adding to that list is how to start in an uphill position, I use the handbrake, use moderate throttle and release the clutch slowly, when it starts to grip just let go of the handbrake and off you go in a nice smooth way.

Your list looks fine, just practice and you'll get the feeling of it. And about the lowest RPM, it's very individual for what engine you have. You might even go as low as 1.100-1.200 rpm or so.. If you want to practice eco-driving, use 5th gear for any speed above 35 mph, at least as long as the engine doesn't start to complain loudly.
 
For downshifting under braking, you don't want to get on the gas at all... until you get in practice and learn to heel and toe. If you're talking about downshifting for acceleration, your technique is good.

For upshifting under acceleration, there's no reason to blip the throttle during the shift. After you shift up, the car will be turning lower revs for a given wheel speed, and there is no need to increase the revs over what they were in the lower gear.
Click to expand...

Sorry. I had up and down reversed. The throttle blip was for downshifting.

I've heard that you're not supposed to "slip" the clutch while shifting to any gear besides first. That basically if you're moving you don't need to hit the gas at all when changing gears - I've tried that and I don't think it's right. So I usually hit the gas as I remove the clutch pretty much every time.
 
danoff
Sorry. I had up and down reversed. The throttle blip was for downshifting.

I've heard that you're not supposed to "slip" the clutch while shifting to any gear besides first. That basically if you're moving you don't need to hit the gas at all when changing gears - I've tried that and I don't think it's right. So I usually hit the gas as I remove the clutch pretty much every time.
Click to expand...

You need to use the gas in any up/down shifting to match the coming gears required rpm in order to get a smooth shift with as little need as possible for clutch slip.
 
The truth is, shifting is an art, not a science, in a way. Don't worry, though, after a few weeks, maybe a month or two, it all becomes totally unconcious, second nature. Even my heel-toes entering high-speed corners (something you're unlikely to deal with) became totally automatic.

One warning, though, after a long time of manual, it becomes harder to drive an auto. They say autos are easier in traffic, but I find using the clutch and having the instant, full, control, so much better than having a laggy, unpredictable, trasmission, with a mind of its own. Manual I can drive smoothly in traffic, in an auto, I try to move up, lag, then jerk forward, have to slam on the brake to not hit the guy ahead of me.
 
The truth is, shifting is an art, not a science, in a way. Don't worry, though, after a few weeks, maybe a month or two, it all becomes totally unconcious, second nature. Even my heel-toes entering high-speed corners (something you're unlikely to deal with) became totally automatic.
Click to expand...

Yea, I used to drive a manual on a regular basis and I stopped thinking about it eventually and it just became part of driving. But shifting incorrectly can become second nature as well. So I figured since I'm going to be picking i up again, I should make sure I have the right technique before it becomes habit all over again.
 
when pulling off in first i find it easier to release the handbrake just before the clutch bites so theres no jolt and can move off smoothly. learning manual isnt too hard just takes practice and try to get the stick in the right slot :lol: ahh i had a few moments when i first started, accidently of course, 1st instead of 3rd ooh car doesnt like that too much, or your neck for that matter :lol: iv always shifted up by ear but i think its around 2k rpm, iv never blipd the throttle downshifting tho :odd:
 
My chevy has a 4 speed, and for me, smoothness and whatever doesn't get it stuck is the proper way to go. ( I oncen got the Transmission stuck in third, and we had to wedge the shifter out with a giant screwdriver) :dopey:
 
and never use the gas with the cutch slipping except to start
Click to expand...

So how are you supposed to shift then? Do you just punch the clutch, throw the gear, and then release the clutch all without touching the gas? That usually results in a very rough ride.
 
No, you need to feather the throttle and clutch on shifts. It's just a bit quicker than on launch.

One thing to remember is to taper off your throttle before you put the clutch in for an upshift. This reduces the acceleration and transfers weight forward gently, rather than a sudden lurch when you clutch.

I never use the handbrake on hills. After a week or two with the car you'll be familiar enough with the clutch takeup that you can let it out just to that point instantly and catch the car before it rolls back.
 
You give it gas while letting out the clutch. Gas in as you're clutching out.

Your ride quality depends on 2 things. Your shifting technique and how much bite your clutch has. Newer (more expensive) cars will generally have progressive clutches that help in smoother gear engagements.
 
No, you need to feather the throttle and clutch on shifts. It's just a bit quicker than on launch.
Click to expand...

Thanks Duke, that's what I thought.

One thing to remember is to taper off your throttle before you put the clutch in for an upshift.
Click to expand...

But that slows you down!! :) That makes sense, I'll try to remember that.

But if you're racing I'll bet you don't do this right?
 
danoff
Thanks Duke, that's what I thought.



But that slows you down!! :) That makes sense, I'll try to remember that.

But if you're racing I'll bet you don't do this right?
Click to expand...

No, it doesn't slow you down. At least in any kind of road racing or autoX, you want to do that, because otherwise the car will become unstable and potentially become uncontrollable.
 
danoff
But that slows you down!! :) That makes sense, I'll try to remember that.

But if you're racing I'll bet you don't do this right?
Click to expand...

Lots of racers do lift off the throttle on an upshift because it is very tough on the drivetrain. But many don't. Power shifting is common to drag racers.


M
 
Lots of racers do lift off the throttle on an upshift because it is very tough on the drivetrain. But many don't. Power shifting is common to drag racers.
Click to expand...

That's interesting, I'm sure that it is hard on the drivetrain.

However, I was talking about tapering off of the throttle before shifting instead of just yanking the foot off altogether.

Duke was describing easing off on the throttle to keep the car from lurching. I was saying that just yanking your foot off to shift and then putting it right back on would be faster but a rougher ride - that's all.
 
Just practice uphill starts for a week – that's what I did. :p (Nothing else for that entire week.) You learn the clutch's catching point very quickly that way.
 
Don't coast along with the clutch in. Stick it in neutral instead.
When you coast along with the clutch in, there is still a slight amount of friction that builds up heat quickly. Get the clutch too hot, and the friction material will just flake off.
 
danoff
That's interesting, I'm sure that it is hard on the drivetrain.

However, I was talking about tapering off of the throttle before shifting instead of just yanking the foot off altogether.

Duke was describing easing off on the throttle to keep the car from lurching. I was saying that just yanking your foot off to shift and then putting it right back on would be faster but a rougher ride - that's all.
Click to expand...

Ah, sorry... I've got a bad cold this week and all the words are just blurring oneintoanother.. :dopey:


M
 
Slicks
Don't coast along with the clutch in. Stick it in neutral instead.
When you coast along with the clutch in, there is still a slight amount of friction that builds up heat quickly. Get the clutch too hot, and the friction material will just flake off.
Click to expand...
Not if your clutch is adjusted properly. If your clutch is in, the plates should not be touching each other. You should be able to sit in gear with the clutch in all day, and not wear anything but the throwout bearing.
 
Powershifting is when you upshift without lifting your foot off the accelerator. Racers sometimes do it to keep the revs up.
 
yeah danoff, what are you looking at <8- D i just bought my second manual car last monday (89 civic hatchback as a daily driver for $400) but i have been driving standard transmission cars for a long enough period of time to tell you, yeah shifting is not something you can write down on paper and do it no problem, every time.

You said you used to drive manual cars a while back so you should not have a problem, but remember....the clutch pedal has to be depressed to start it <8- P a friend of mine went to the bmw dealership and they were trying to start a car for 10 minutes before the sales person told him......and about hills, i learned on our driveway, which is basically a 45 degree angle with a big freakin bush at the bottom, so the pressure helped me out ;- )

speaking of shifting, do any of you guys just shift without the clutch, rev-matching i think? you get off the throttle, pop it out into neutral, allow the revs to drop if you are upshifting and vice versa for downshifting, allow the revs to get to the point where it would normally be if you were to shift with the clutch and just push it into gear. honestly, i would rather buy a new clutch than buy a new transmission hahah but some people just like to experiment with fire i guess <8- P
 

Latest Posts

Back